Bengaluru: The price of rice has hit the roof following drought for two successive years. The cost of raw rice per kg, which was around Rs 45 last month, has now touched Rs 55- an increase of Rs 10 per kg. Traders fear the price may further climb by another Rs 10 per kg in the coming months, if the rains fail.
Failure of rains in the last two years had resulted in total destruction of the paddy crop in major paddy growing districts like Koppal, Ballari, Raichur and Davangere.
The harvest had been 10-14 per cent in Gangavathi taluk of Koppal district and 20 per cent in Davangere district. This year, there was no water in reservoirs in the districts to save the paddy crop. Naturally, paddy production in the districts was less than 20 per cent which was never heard of in the past. Paddy is a four-month crop and requires a huge quantity of water compared to other crops.
With absolutely no rains in the last two years, the paddy crop has suffered a lot. People are already burdened due to the steep hike in prices of pulses and cereals with the spiraling price of rice adding to their woes.
Mr Gautam Bafna, a wholesale dealer of rice, told Deccan Chronicle that failure of rains in the last two years has badly impacted the paddy crop. Traders and mill owners are keeping their fingers crossed expecting a good monsoon so that there would be good arrival of paddy in the market.
As of today, the rice price is Rs 4,800 to Rs 4,900 per quintal, an increase of Rs 400 to Rs 500 compared to the price a month ago. If the state experiences good rains in the current season, fresh stock of paddy may arrive during October-November and push down the prices, otherwise there is the likelihood of an increase of Rs 10 per kg in the coming months. The daily consumption of rice in Bengaluru city is around 250 truck loads. Each truck carries 400 bags of 25 kg each.
Mr Prakash, who owns a rice mill in Gangavathi taluk, said almost all rice mills in Gangavathi, Kampli, Siraguppe, Hosapete, Raichur and Davangere are closed for want of paddy.
Farmers, who have stocked paddy, are not ready to sell the stock anticipating further increase in prices. So, the mill owners have stopped operating their mills temporarily and may start operating only after fresh arrival of paddy in the market. “This situation prevails not only in Karnataka but also in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Chattisgarh-the major paddy growing states.”
